Into the Story: True Stories, Better Communication

Sarah Allworthy, a London-born translator and interpreter now in Catalonia, shares her remarkable tale of motherhood and the pressures that come with it. She dives into her emotional journey through infertility and IVF, revealing the unexpected challenges of childbirth. With humor and resilience, Sarah reflects on her carefree London childhood, her transformative move to Barcelona, and how she embraced daring choices against societal expectations. Her stories illustrate the beauty found in life's unpredictability and the importance of confidence.

Archy Jamjun, a talented storyteller and co-organizer of Outspoken LGBTQ Stories in Chicago, shares his journey of self-discovery and acceptance. He reflects on the challenges of growing up in a family with high expectations while grappling with his identity. Archy discusses the pivotal role of a family member who helped him embrace his true self. He also explores the influence of his beloved aunt and the beauty rituals they shared, emphasizing the power of love, acceptance, and community in overcoming struggles.

After her dream job left her exhausted, Megan Nicholls decides to change her pace completely.  Level: Upper Intermediate   Accent: United Kingdom (Manchester) 👉 ⁠Get the FREE EPISODE PACK⁠ to go further Into the Story. 5 Words & Expressions in Today's Story: - TO RUSTLE: To make a soft, crackling sound, usually from something moving, like leaves or paper. "The wind rustled the leaves in the trees."  - PICK UP THE PACE: To go or work faster. "We need to pick up the pace if we want to finish on time." - TO AIR (SOMETHING) OUT: To let fresh air into something, like a room or clothing. “I aired my shoes out after the hike.” - TO BE AT EASE: To feel comfortable and relaxed. "He felt at ease after solving the problem. - TO BE STILTED: Awkward or unnatural, especially in speech or movement. "Their conversation felt stilted, with long pauses."  Episode Links:  - Learn more about Megan Nicholls at her website megalanguagecoach.com 👉 ⁠⁠Join Bree’s free newsletter⁠⁠ — full of practical tips, inspiring ideas, and tools to enhance your English and your mindset. Sponsors That Support This Podcast: -⁠⁠ ⁠Free course Cambridge B2 First⁠⁠⁠ for Spanish speakers from AC English School -⁠⁠ ⁠Enjoy a 5% discount on IATI travel insurance,⁠⁠⁠ a company my family uses and trusts

Ariel Goodbody, a stand-up comedian celebrated for his unexpected style, dives into the challenges of stepping onto the stage. He shares his journey from academia to comedy, emphasizing the bravery required to confront audiences with truly unique material. Ariel also discusses the delicate balance of dark humor, navigating sensitive themes while maintaining authenticity. Listeners are encouraged to embrace individuality and the courage it takes to stand out in creative expressions.

Rob Rudge tells a story about that moment when you’re so close to a problem that you can’t see the solution. Level: Upper-Intermediate  Accent: United Kingdom (Yorkshire) FREE EPISODE LEARNING PACKAGE⁠ to make the most of this episode and subscribe to our newsletter to take your English much further. SPONSORS THAT SUPPORT THIS PODCAST: - Free course Cambridge B2 First for Spanish speakers from AC English School - Enjoy a 5% discount on IATI travel insurance, a company my family uses and trusts 5 words & expressions in today's story: - UPBRINGING: The way a child is raised and taught by their parents. Examples: "Her strict upbringing influenced her strong work ethic." or "He credits his upbringing for his sense of responsibility." - TO KICK BACK: To relax and do nothing. Examples: "After a long day, I just want to kick back and watch TV." or "She kicked back on the sofa with a good book." - MAIN DRAG: The main street or central road in a town or city. Examples: "The main drag is always busy with traffic." or "Shops and restaurants line the main drag of the city." - WITHOUT BATTING AN EYE: Without showing any reaction or surprise. Examples: "She handled the criticism without batting an eye." or "He agreed to the risky plan without batting an eye." - TO DREAD: To feel great fear or anxiety about something. Examples: "She dreaded going to the dentist." or "He dreaded the long flight ahead." Episode Links:  - Learn more about Rob Rudge at his website, Energetic English  - Listen to Rob & Bree chat about small talk on The Business English Podcast 💛 Want more from Into the Story? Subscribe to our⁠⁠ ⁠free newsletter⁠⁠⁠ to get a quick email from Bree every few weeks filled with practical tips, fascinating topics from the world of psychology, and strategies to improve your life.

Fabio Cerpelloni, an Italian writer and educator, shares his inspiring journey of reaching out to famous figures. He discusses overcoming the fear of rejection and the valuable lessons learned from unexpected responses. Fabio highlights how asking questions can broaden perspectives, emphasizing the courage it takes to connect with others. He also reflects on his transformative experiences between London, Australia, and New Zealand, and how prioritizing passion has led to greater success in writing and teaching.

Season 6 of Into the Story arrives August 2024! Meanwhile, enjoy this fiction story from Ariel Goodbody of Easy Stories in English about two sisters. If you haven't already listened to ⁠Sisters, Sisters (Part 1)⁠, go listen now! Angeline and Annabelle are a classic sister act. Annabelle writes the songs and they sing together, but Angeline gets all the compliments. When a music producer offers a deal to Annabelle, she realizes she can't let the opportunity go. But what starts as a harmonious collaboration soon turns into a discordant nightmare… Level: Intermediate Accent: United Kingdom (Bath)  👉 Get the full transcript at EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Sisters  Episode Vocabulary:  - DYE: To change the color of something using a special liquid. Examples: "She dyed her hair bright red." or "They dyed the fabric blue for the costumes." - VOCALS: The singing part of a song. Examples: "Her vocals were amazing in the concert." or "He provided the vocals for the band's latest album." - SYNTHESIZER: An electronic instrument that creates various sounds. Examples: "He played the melody on the synthesizer." or "The band used a synthesizer to add electronic effects to their music." - CUT OUT: To remove something by cutting. Examples: "She cut out the article from the newspaper." or "He cut out pictures from magazines for his collage." Episode Links: - Find more episodes like this one at Easy Stories in English  💛 Want more from Into the Story? Subscribe to our⁠ ⁠free newsletter⁠⁠ to get a quick email from Bree every few weeks filled with practical tips, fascinating topics from the world of psychology, and strategies to improve your life.

Season 6 of Into the Story arrives August 2024! Meanwhile, enjoy this fiction story from Ariel Goodbody of Easy Stories in English about two sisters. Angeline and Annabelle are a classic sister act. Annabelle writes the songs and they sing together, but Angeline gets all the compliments. When a music producer offers a deal to Annabelle, she realises she can't let the opportunity go. But what starts as a harmonious collaboration soon turns into a discordant nightmare... Level: Intermediate Accent: United Kingdom (Bath)  👉 Get the full transcript at EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Sisters  Episode Vocabulary:  - FIDDLE: To play with something in a restless or nervous way. Examples: "He fiddled with his pen during the meeting." or "She fiddled with her hair while she talked." - SPRINKLES: Tiny pieces of candy used to decorate desserts. Examples: "She added sprinkles to the cupcakes for a festive look." or "The ice cream was topped with colorful sprinkles." - KEEP YOUR NOSE CLEAN: To stay out of trouble. Examples: "He tries to keep his nose clean and avoid any legal issues." or "She was advised to keep her nose clean at her new job." - COMPLIMENT: A polite expression of praise or admiration. Examples: "She gave him a compliment on his new haircut." or "He received many compliments on his performance." - FLIRT: To behave playfully towards someone you are attracted to. Examples: "He likes to flirt with her at parties." or "She was flirting with him at the coffee shop." - PINCH: To squeeze tightly between the fingers. Examples: "She pinched her arm to make sure she wasn't dreaming." or "He pinched his brother playfully." - FLAP: To move up and down or back and forth quickly. Examples: "The bird flapped its wings and flew away." or "The flag flapped in the strong wind." - X MEETS Y: A way to describe something as a combination of two different things. Examples: "The movie is like 'Indiana Jones meets Star Wars.'" or "Her music is a mix of pop meets classical." - BROADSHEET: A large-format newspaper known for serious journalism. Examples: "He reads the broadsheet every morning for the latest news." or "The broadsheet published an in-depth article on the topic." - NOTE (MUSIC): A single sound of a particular pitch in music. Examples: "She played a high note on the piano." or "He hit the perfect note during his solo." - HIKE: A long walk, usually in the countryside or wilderness. Examples: "They went for a hike in the mountains." or "She enjoys hiking on weekends." Episode Links: - Find more episodes like this one at Easy Stories in English  💛 Want more from Into the Story? Subscribe to our⁠ ⁠free newsletter⁠⁠ to get a quick email from Bree every few weeks filled with practical tips, fascinating topics from the world of psychology, and strategies to improve your life.

Christie was on tour as a professional dancer when unexpected turns teach her about strength and confidence, even when things get difficult. Level: upper intermediate  Accent: Canadian 🚐 Ready to take your English further? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOR FULL EPISODE PACKAGE⁠ with vocabulary, test, and transcript! 5 words and expressions in today's story: - BREAD AND BUTTER: Someone's main job or main source of income. Examples: "For many musicians, playing concerts is their bread and butter." or "Writing is her bread and butter; it pays all her bills." - OUT OF THE BLUE: Something happens suddenly and unexpectedly. Examples: "I was walking home, and out of the blue, it started raining heavily." or "He received a phone call out of the blue from an old friend." - BUMP UP: This phrasal verb means to upgrade or move to a higher position or level. Examples: "She was bumped up to a manager position at work." or "The airline bumped up her seat to business class for free." - LONG STORY SHORT: To explain only the most important parts of a story, leaving out unnecessary details. Examples: "The car broke down, we missed the event, and long story short, it was a terrible day." or "Long story short, we decided to move to a new city after many discussions." - TO BURN OUT: This phrasal verb can mean two things: (1) When a fire stops burning because there is no more fuel. Example: "The campfire burned out after we ran out of wood." (2) When a person becomes very tired and can't continue because they have worked too hard. Example: "The campfire burned out after we ran out of wood." or "After working nonstop for months, he finally burned out and needed a vacation." Episode Links: - To find out more about Christie Cunningham, visit her website 💛 Want more from Into the Story? Subscribe to our⁠ ⁠free newsletter⁠⁠ to get a quick email from Bree every few weeks filled with practical tips, fascinating topics from the world of psychology, and strategies to improve your life

Join Thomas Zachariassen, an experienced ultramarathon runner, as he shares the challenges of race day, pushing oneself in training, trusting gut feelings, and the relief of crossing the finish line. Explore the mindset of ultramarathon runners and the mental and physical hurdles they overcome.